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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_EeR2RBF7A&feature=youtu.be
The body of a pregnant woman undergoes many changes. One of them has to do with the growth of the abdomen. Before pregnancy, the uterus is the size of an orange and is located inside the pelvis, but at the end of pregnancy, it will be the size of a watermelon. Incredible, isn’t it?
For Daniela Carrasco, team member of Luna Maya, professional midwives, wearing a girdle is not necessary after giving birth “because the body is wise and the muscles begin to work so the uterus returns to the size it had before pregnancy”.
Wearing a girdle does not speed up the reduction of the uterus, but “it makes a woman feel more secure by having greater support during the time in which this organ becomes small again and returns to its normal size”, says Carrasco.
Be patient!
According to the American Pregnancy Association, as the uterus grows, it pushes the organs out of place and stresses the surrounding muscles and ligaments. The pressure of the uterus can even cause the navel to protrude.
Upon reaching the term of pregnancy, the uterus extends from the pubic area to the lower part of the ribs. The good news is that after the baby is born, the uterus gradually returns to its pre-pregnancy size and position. Do not despair, all in good time. You have to be patient.
Postpartum girdle: Wearing time
“When a baby is born, by vaginal delivery, and the mother decides to wear a girdle because it makes her feel safer, she should do it only for the first two weeks and not wear it all day”, recommends Daniela Carrasco, an obstetrician nurse from the National School of Nursing and Obstetrics of the UNAM. She advises that wearing a girdle only prevents the abdominal muscles from working and not exercising.
She explains that the muscles are active all the time and, when putting on a girdle, the abdominal muscles become flaccid, they lose strength and muscle tone, “Wearing it brings more consequences than not doing it”.
In the publication Nursing Interventions during the Physiological Puerperium, by the Ministry of Health, it is recommended to inform women that the internal and external organs physiologically recover within the sixth and eighth week after childbirth.
If you had a C-section…
In this case, it is fully recommended to wear the girdle because the surgery is a process in which the muscles are cut and important parts of the abdomen are cut, too. “A compression bandage simulating a girdle is made”, says the expert.
While in a vaginal delivery the abdominal muscles are not cut and everything remains in place, in a C-section the body needs a healing process to strengthen and be able to hold all the intestine and abdominal organs.
Finally, what are the motivations for women who had a vaginal delivery to wear a girdle? Daniela Carrasco lists them:
They feel safer and more comfortable to carry out their daily activities and carry the baby.
And suddenly, that baby who all family used to carry, no longer wants to separate from its mother, even for a single moment. Leaving the baby at home has become a real problem because, every time you leave the house, he cries inconsolably. It’s now, more than ever, that your child needs your empathy because he is experiencing the anguish of separation that comes from the emotional attachment to mom or dad.
Usually, between the eighth or ninth months of age, the baby generates an attaching bond to its closest caretakers. The little ones begin with the anguish of separation or fear to strange people, known as the famous “mamitis” or “papitis” in Spanish, which means extremely emotional attachment to one or both of its parents.
The extremely emotional attachment could be to parents, grandpas, aunts… it depends on whom the baby has created the affective bond because a baby doesn’t have developed the maturity of object permanence. That means that the child does not know “if the person who takes care of it, will return”.
Babies suffer deep anguish when mom or dad have to go away. “It is a natural stage in children’s development, and it’s cyclical: it comes and goes. The child will get rid of it when it is able to internalize that its caretakers are going to leave, but also, they’re going to come back”, explains psychologist Coral Casarín Morfín, development advisor from Proyecto Dei Association.
How to support your children
During this stage, babies need a lot of patience from you. You shouldn’t tell them “If you misbehave, I’ll leave you with this lady”, making reference to someone the child doesn’t know. Also, you shouldn’t let unknown people (for them), take care of them. For example, the aunt or the cousin that they have never seen.
In stressful situations, a child will need that the adult gives it certainty and security to accompany and contain it emotionally. Usually this attachment will be developed to mom and dad.
“If your baby is in an extremely emotional attachment stage, the expert recommends to breathe deeply. Breathing will allow us to distance ourselves and be in our balance and, as adults, be able to help our child when it has a moment of anxiety”.
When a child is protected by a supportive adult relationship, it learns to face daily challenges, and its defense system against stress goes back to its set point. Scientists call this as positive stress, according to the Harvard University Child Development Center.
Parents also need to take care of themselves: “a mom or dad that do so, will take care of its child too. A mom or dad that keeps calm would be able to calm its child”.
Carol Casarín Morfín, development advisor from Proyecto Dei association.
Don’t hide away!
Hiding any time you want to leave home, so your child can’t see you, is not a good idea. Many parents do this so the baby won’t cry or suffer, but if you use that strategy all the time and you “hide” without letting it know, the child will be anguished, explains Coral Casarín.
The parenting expert recommends to tell the kid that you’re going out, but you are going to return; it is basic to do so because this will help the baby understand what’s going on. “Letting the baby know is a preventive medicine”. You could say, “I am going to the doctor; I’ll be back later. When I´m back, I´ll hug and kiss you”.
A baby would not understand about temporality, that is, the time and space location. So, you can make it a graphic calendar with pictures or drawings so it could know what is going to happen during the day and, it could go better through the separation anguish stage.
During the attachment period the baby will cry, and it is not a tantrum, but anguish. Little by little the child will learn to trust, and that will only happen watching you return. Slowly the child will become self-sufficient and independent.
What else could you do during this development stage of your baby? Other resources to go through the attachment stage are to find moments of concentrated attention and specific time playing with your child.
One of the most common myths that exist in Mexico is that the fontanelle, or soft spot, (that soft hole in the head of babies) can “sink” if you do not hold a child correctly, or remove the bottle very quickly while he is feeding.
But it is also believed that it happens because the child hit his head or was given the “evil eye”.
If you observe any change in the baby’s fontanelle, for example, that it is sunken, avoid taking it to the lady who “cures”; the only thing she will do is rub the “soft spot” and turn the little one upside down.
Then, she will hit him on his feet and that “can cause bleeding inside the baby’s head and impair the function of her brain”, says Dr. Mariana Ramos Antuna, a pediatrician at Jurica Medical Center.
The specialist comments that, if parents observe any alteration in the fontanelle, for example, that it is sunken or bulging, they should take their little one to their pediatrician for an evaluation, since it may be dehydration or cranial pressure.
Learn more about fontanelles
Fontanelles are the “soft parts” that are located on the top of the head. These soft spots are gaps between the bones of the skull that, because they have not closed completely, facilitate the baby’s passage through the birth canal.
“The head circumference of a newborn is approximately 34 centimeters, and after a year, it will measure about 46 centimeters”, says Ramos Antuna.
The pediatric consultation of a baby is of the utmost importance. Part of that checkup is measuring the head circumference.
If it stops growing, it means that the fontanelles are closing and are not allowing the baby’s head to grow. This is an important warning, explains the pediatrician: “An evaluation with a pediatric neurologist should be requested, and in some cases, with a pediatric neurosurgeon”.
Pediatrician Ramos Antuna points out that it is normal and healthy for a baby to have fontanelles.
The best known is the anterior fontanelle, colloquially called “soft spot“, which is covered by a fibrous layer that has a slight depression –through which heart beats are felt– and pediatricians tend to touch gently in monthly check-ups.
When the baby is born, these soft parts have not ossified because the brain continues to grow, otherwise, it could not expand, “If the fontanelle were closed at birth, the brain would have nowhere to grow.
The child would be left with a small head and, therefore, there would not have a good neurological development“, she explains.
Dehydration sign
Once the fontanelle is closed, you will no longer feel that little hole, but, while the “soft spot” has not closed completely, it is an indicator for doctors that the baby is healthy and in an adequate state of hydration.
People often say that the baby has a suddenly “sunken soft spot”; this may be because the cranial pressure decreased, which is a sign of dehydration, says the pediatrician.
“If the baby has vomit or diarrhea and the parents notice the fontanelle is a little sunken, they should see their pediatrician or go to the emergency room”, she explains.
And if it rises or bulges, it means that there is an increase in pressure inside the skull. This must be discussed with the doctor, because it may be infections in the central nervous system.
”It could be an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, which is the fluid that covers the brain, or the presence of a tumor. Meningitis is an inflammation of the covering of the brain and can also alter the shape of the fontanelle”.
Celebrating Father’s Day started in 1910. Louise Smart Dood, an American woman, tried that the role of fathers in society got some recognition. Here we present: Radiography of Mexican dads
In Mexico, it was not until 1972 that dad began to be celebrated, and it was established that he would be celebrated every third Sunday in June.
Radiography of Mexican dads: Traditional fatherhood
To speak of fatherhood in Mexico is to point out a variety of characteristics that exist in the male population that has sons or daughters.
Little by little, the Mexican father is leaving the traditional fatherhood behind. Today, more and more men are getting involved in parenting.
It should be noted that this celebration does not have “as much rating” as the celebration of Mother’s Day, but the new generations are recognizing the importance of the father in the lives of girls and boys.
To begin with, while 78 percent of the population celebrates the mother, only 50 percent of the population celebrates the father.
5 million men are fathers, that is, a third of the male population have children. According to the INEGI, all the men in the household who were referenced as such by any of the household members were counted as fathers; those who do not share the dwelling with their children were not counted as fathers.
On an average, the fathers are 44 years old.1 percent were under the age of 18; 15.8 percent were between 18 and 29 years old; 52.3 percent were in the range of 30 to 49 years of age; 25.8 percent between 50 and 69; and only 5.9 percent were 70 years and older.
2 percent have basic education; 15 out of every hundred have a major’s degree and only two out of every hundred have a master’s degree or higher. It should be noted that the majority of the population under 15 years of age lives with both parents (86.5 percent), 12.2 percent lives only with the mother, while 1.3 percent lives only with the father.
3 percent of households in Mexico are supported by men.
A male head of a family spends an average of 11.1 hours a week on housework. While female heads of family spend an average of 33.2 hours a week.
A male head of a family spends an average of 11.1 hours a week on housework. While female heads of family spend an average of 33.2 hours a week.
796,000 men are heads of their homes, of which 259,000 are separated or divorced, 42,000 have suffered abandonment, and 495,000 are widowed.
The Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco-Servytur) estimated that this 2021 celebration of Father’s Day would result in an economic benefit of around 17. 5 billion pesos.
Since 2012, paid paternity leave has been included in the Federal Labor Law (LFT). Working fathers are entitled to five days of leave from the birthday of their son or daughter, or when they receive the minor, in the case of adoption. In other countries, they average 8.1 weeks of paid paternity leave, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
In the United States a survey found that 46 percent of fathers say they don’t spend enough time with their sons and daughters, compared to 23 percent of mothers, according to the State of Parenting Outlook in the World, from MenCare 2015.
During pregnancy, the umbilical cord is responsible for transporting all the nutrients necessary for the growth and healthy development of the baby. At birth, this lifeline is cut so that your daughter or son becomes an individual being. Incredible, isn’t it?
A small piece of the cord, known as the umbilical stump, dries up and turns almost black in the first four hours after the baby is born, and then it detaches from the navel in seven or 10 days. “If it does not fall within this period, the causes must be addressed”, points out the neonatologist pediatrician Sergio David García Rosado, from the ABC Observatory Medical Center.
How to clean the umbilical cord
There is basic care that parents must carry out, at home, to avoid infections. It should be done before and after the umbilical cord falls off. The specialist recommends to daily:
Clean the area with soap and water.
Dry thoroughly the umbilical cord section.
Air it to let it dry completely.
Pay attention to certain red flags and contact your pediatrician immediately:
It is likely that, when the umbilical cord falls, there are small drops of blood that when pressed will be absorbed back, but this should not be continuous or abundant.
Outflow of a continuous or fetid discharge.
Redness, harshness, or increased temperature in the area.
In past times, when the umbilical cord fell off, some mothers and fathers used to place a raisin, a coin or some pellets in the navel. The purpose was that it did not pop out.
However, it is not necessary to place anything in the area and it is normal for all babies to have a protruding belly button. This is because at this age, there is a separation of the abdominal muscles and it causes the navel to pop out.
Don’t experiment with your baby! Once the umbilical cord has fallen, do not put objects in the navel area. Keep in mind that all children have this hernia, some will protrude more than others, but it is not something to worry about.
Something else you should avoid doing is looking for information in little reliable or completely unreliable sources, since you could put your child’s health at risk. Some moms and dads look for answers to their doubts online and come across unsupported, unscientific news, “There is a lot of misinformation on the web. If we used to ‘battle’ against grandparents, now we do it with the Internet”, emphasizes the expert.
99% of physiological umbilical hernias close within the first year of life. It is uncommon that they persist after that time. “You don’t have to do anything else. As a baby grows, his muscles also grow and gather in the midline. It is not necessary to put on bandages”, clarifies the specialist. If it does not close, the pediatrician must check the reason.
5 interesting facts
The umbilical cord contains stem cells.
It is between 40 and 60 centimeters long.
Omphalitis is the name given to a navel infection in a newborn.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends delaying the clamping of the umbilical cord after birth so that a newborn receives important nutrients.
Umbilical cord blood banks store the blood contained in it because it can be used later even by first- or second-degree relatives. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “Umbilical cord blood is useful because it is a source of stem cells that are transformed into blood globules. It can be used for transplantation in people who need regeneration, that is, to ‘re-produce’ blood cells. However, umbilical cord blood is not a cure for everything”.
Luis has never had a baby in his arms. A newborn baby seems so fragile that he is nervous and afraid. However, in a couple of months he will become a dad and it will be necessary for him to learn how to hold his baby.
If, like Luis, you are a new mother or father who is experiencing nervousness because you do not know anything about parenting, we have news that will reassure you: it is very difficult for people to drop a baby from their arms. This is assured by Azucena García Pacheco, an expert in baby care at the Prenatal Care Center: I am a Child Carer.
Stop imagining crazy things that won’t happen and start practicing holding your baby. Using a doll or a rolled-up blanket is a good idea to get started, practice makes perfect!
Step by step
To receive and hold a newborn baby, it is very important to do so safely and firmly. You should always hold the head and neck together, as well as the upper back with your hand. At this age they still cannot do it on their own. Head control will be achieved after three months of age.
There are different ways to carry a baby, but the most common is to carry it against the chest. The childcare worker García Pacheco explains it like this:
Identify which is your dominant arm, left or right because you are going to support most of the baby’s weight on it.
Place his neck on your arm.
Support the body with the other hand and arm.
Hold the head and neck with one hand and the body with the other hand.
Let the baby rest its head on your arm to give it stability.
Avoid sudden movements.
A baby needs to be held
There is a myth that if you carry a baby, it will get used to it. However, a newborn needs your arms for relief. Don’t be afraid to hold it! “If a child cries and calms down when you hug him, it is because he needs comfort and feel protected”, emphasizes García Pacheco.
The child development specialist points out that there is a lot of misinformation about it, and not holding a baby when it cries is “emotional negligence“. As adults, we are not only in charge of meeting the baby’s physical and feeding needs, but also the affective and emotional ones. “If you hold a baby and it calms down and stops crying, you shouldn’t hesitate to do it, do it for love and respect”, she says.
The baby carrier can be your new best friend
For centuries, mainly women have lifted and carried their young close to them in shawls to keep their hands free. The use of a shawl or baby carrier satisfies the child’s need to feel safe and calm, while leaving the wearer’s hands free.
According to the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, in all cultures, both babies and young children have been baby-carried, so that adults can perform daily tasks or move more quickly, while still caring for them.
Baby-carrying allows a kid to adopt ergonomic postures that are in accordance with its anatomy, that do not hurt it and that favor its physical and emotional development. You just have to be aware that the shawl or the baby carrier does not rub against its skin, concludes the expert.
Do you know the world of Villains by Alan Ituriel? Do you know of his books? Have you seen his animated series?
Let me tell you. The Villainsseries created by Alan Ituriel is a co-production between Ai Animation and Cartoon Network Latin America that debuted in May 2017 with ten animated shorts through YouTube and Cartoon Network LA TV.
In 2018, the first season began on YouTube, consisting of 12 chapters entitled: Black Hat Organization: orientation videos for villains.
In 2019, the pilot episode Villainous: The DreadfulDawn was released on both the video platform and Cartoon Network Latam. And in 2021, the first season was broadcast on HBO Max and Cartoon Network.
Alan Ituriel likes that Villains fans take ownership of the characters and want to know the mystery of Master Black Hat and the secrets within the Black Hat Organization.
Hence, he now ventures into the publishing world with two books:
In this book, the beloved characters Dr. Flug and Dementia will reveal enigmas told with humor in the style of Flug and Dem. It has activities that make reading dynamic, and, best of all, it is narrated from the perspective of its protagonists.
Activity Book and Coloring Book for Villains by 505
With the Activity Book and the Coloring Book for Villains by 505, you will have fun with the ingenuity of their proposals. If you turn the book upside down, you will find the pages for coloring the illustrations drawn by… Guess!
Right, 505 himself.
Alan Ituriel, in an interview, told me that it feels very nice to return to the origins of Villains by passing through the world of Villains to the publishing side with Penguin Random House.
“Not all villains are so bad, and not all superheroes are so good”.
Ituriel also shared with me that he likes the code part. He revealed that he identifies with the character of Dem because he enjoys looking at the surroundings, rescuing the positive side, and loving it. Still, in the end, he likes the duality of personalities of Flug and Dem.
In addition, he loves to make many references; hence, from the show’s beginning, he resorts to them. He recommends reading his books from the age of 7. But now, without further ado, I invite you to watch the full interview on my Susy Kinema channel:
I’m sure with Dr. Flug’s Research Log: Dem’s Diary! and Activity and Coloring Book for Villains by 505, both from Altea Publishing House, the little ones will enjoy the unpublished illustrations and solve codes that will put an end to boredom.
Last tip: You will also discover valuable information on Boss Black Hat, Flug, Dem, 505, and the villain world. Don’t forget to check out the special decoder that Flug designed!
I am Susana Pérez, CEO at Pop Kinema, an entertainment media, where I have had the opportunity to cover various sections, especially books, one of my favorite hobbies. I have interviewed several authors that I had never even dreamed of because I saw the fact of being able to converse with them as far away or impossible.
I will share several of the books I have read with you and your children to give you a little push and encourage you to read and imagine a world of adventures with the stories you will read.
After living in confinement for almost two years due to Covid-19, we face moments of uncertainty and stress due to isolation. And if, as adults, we are on the verge of a nervous breakdown, imagine the spoiled ones at home. For this reason, today I want to recommend a book that the whole family will surely enjoy: A practical guide to mindfulness for children: Simple tools and exercises to do at school and home, by Silvio Raij.
Suddenly, we stopped seeing our friends in person, we could no longer visit our favorite places, and many were even unable to see their parents for a long time. It was then that circumstances led us to renew ourselves, acquire new knowledge, and adapt to a new lifestyle in every way.
This affected both adults and children, but fortunately, during this confinement, the practice of activities that help us clear our minds and feel calm in the face of the unknown and alarming situation we are experiencing increased.
This is how this remarkable book published by Editorial Paidós came into my hands, which I highly recommend:
This practical guide to mindfulness for children has illustrations by the artist Julieta Farfala, and the text highlights the experience of Silvio Raij. He is categorized in the field of coaching, leadership, and mindfulness. This book explains the importance of knowing what mindfulness is and how to teach children the benefits of this practice.
Mindfulness comes from Buddhism, a philosophical doctrine that dates back to 2500 BC. and generally invites one to live here and now with balance, openness, and acceptance of oneself and the environment. If you want to know more, do not miss the specific note that we have in Baby Creysi for you.
But let’s get on with the book…
It is aimed at parents, educators, or anyone who lives with children, and it should be noted that no previous experience in the practice of meditation is required, which makes this book a simple tool to teach children the importance of living in the now.
That you discover with your children the benefits of practicing mindfulness will be healing for them, especially if in their routine they are constantly stressed, they get irritated more easily than ordinary people, or you notice that they have stopped enjoying themselves, that they live it in the cell phone, tablet or computer and do not connect with their surroundings.
Beyond the stress…
This reading gives us words that, when put into practice, become beneficial and enriching in every way, and even better, if we share these teachings with children, little by little, they will learn to be aware of their emotions and thoughts.
How to read it?
The guide is divided into eleven chapters in which we will learn about mindfulness and how to apply it in our daily lives. We will be taking our first steps in teaching mindfulness to children, and we have a whole chapter explaining how to use the cards (included), so it is important to read the book before using them. In the last chapter, you will find a guide on designing a class using the cards.
The book includes thirty illustrated cards specially designed for children between 4 and 12 years old to help them learn to relax through mindfulness, find calm, cultivate kindness, and control their emotions better. Each of the cards has instructions for the activity to be carried out, the intention, materials (if required), the practice, and questions after having done the exercise. They are divided into six themes:
Breathe
Pay attention
Observe your thoughts
Manage your emotions
Discover your body
Be kind and happy
“Childhood is a wonderful stage. There is no past, no future; just a present that is looked at with innocence and illusion”.
Carla Montero
I am sure you will enjoy reading and doing the exercises in the book, individually or in a group. Invite the little ones to join in living a whole and assertive life with mindfulness practice.
I am Susana Pérez, CEO of Pop Kinema, a media of entertainment with which I have had the opportunity to cover various sections, especially books, one of my favorite hobbies.
I have interviewed several authors that I had never imagined in my dreams because before, I saw the fact of being able to converse with them as far away or impossible.
Now I will share with you and your children several of the books I have read to give you a little push and encourage you to read and imagine a world of adventures with the stories you read. Find more on my Susy Kinema channel.
I’ll be looking forward to meeting you in 15 days in my next article!
The importance of kids understanding how a contagion network develops, specifically SARS-CoV-2, is transcendental because the Covid-19 virus is still on the loose.
The head of the molecular microbiology department of the UNAM Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Gabriela García Pérez, made a graphic presentation for sharing with the kids, in very basic terms, how a network of infections develops the Covid-19 virus.
Through images and accompanied by the voice of the biomedical researcher, the little ones will be able to solve their doubts regarding the healthy distance, the correct use of face masks, and the fact of having to wash their hands frequently.
How a network of Covid-19 virus infections develops:
Let us remember that at some point, we all had to stay home, but now that we are going out to school or work, we must remain vigilant and take into account what Dr. Gabriela García Pérez shares with us in the video:
It doesn’t matter if your community is big or small; it all starts the same, with a trip like Xuan’s! He, very excited, returned from visiting his grandparents and ran to his friends’ house, not knowing that he was carrying the Covid-19 virus.
Along the way, he met several people; however, not all of them were infected; why? Because some did keep a healthy distance and had their face masks on.
Luckily, Xuan put himself in the hands of Dr. Kati, who is a very responsible professional who followed all the protocols:
• She sent Xuan to the hospital
She reviewed the paths of the people Xuan had been with
She made a contagion tree (tracking the contagion network)
She determined the people who were healthy and kept them under observation
She isolated the infected people.
The most important thing is to remember that,
“If you take care of yourself, we all take care of ourselves”.
Dr. Gabriela García Pérez
Indeed this explanation is not only for kids; without a doubt that it is also helpful for adults because, although we know perfectly well that the Covid-19 epidemic has not ceased even though we have been fighting this virus for two years, it is not needless to continue raising awareness and, above all, being the example of the children. After all, it is from us that they will take the sample from the behaviors and habits of everyday life.
Let me know if your little one, and you, have found this information helpful, and tell me if you would like us to interview Dr. Gabriela again so that she can tell us specifically about her book. I am looking forward to reading your comments on Facebook!
Hello! This is my first participation with Baby Creysi, which has me very excited. I’m Susy, and I want to talk to you about the firstbooks for young thinkers this time. They’re specifically books for kids.
Big Ideas for Little Philosophers (Grandes ideas para pequeños filósofos)
To motivate kids to build the habit of reading, Penguin Random House launched the collection: Great Ideas for Little Philosophers under Serres, and it is aimed at all those first readers: kids between 4 and 7 years old.
Titles that make up the collection Firstbooks for young thinkers:
I will tell you about two of these incredible firstbooks for young thinkers: Equality with Simone De Beauvoir and Imagination with René Descartes, which have beautiful illustrations on each page, making the books visually attractive not only for kids but also for grown-ups.
An entry that invites you to read
Both books for kids open with the following text, “A philosopher is a person who loves wisdom. Wisdom means knowing things that help you live better and be happy”. It also explains, in an easy way, what philosophy is for.
Both books contain powerful definitions that explain the very essence of Philosophy in a timely, creative and fun way: We can all live better and be happy.
The little ones in the house will like this collection, but they will also learn without realizing it.
It invites boys and girls to do the same activities, regardless of whether they are stereotypes that society assigns to men or women, such as playing soccer or cooking (of course with the advice of an adult), playing with the same toys; it does not matter if they are dolls or cars, be aware that they are just toys and are to have fun and enjoy a pleasant moment with your friends.
It’s okay to cry!
It reminds them that it is okay to cry when a situation makes them sad and that they have the right to show their emotions regardless of their gender. Equality with Simone De Beauvoir motivates them to be kind to everyone, but more to those who are rejected, those who have no friends, and those who are different from them.
Respect…
It is a book that makes clear to the kids the importance of respecting ourselves and respecting others; and that accepting people as they are, being kind, empathetic, and supportive will help them have more opportunities to create a happy and equal world.
Imagination with René Descartes
It inspires little ones to understand their environment through imagination, invites them to imagine what they could see in the jungle or at the bottom of the ocean, and add on their street, at school, at grandparents’ house, etc.
As adults, we can stimulate the imagination of our kids with exercises or simple questions to make them think as Descartes said,
“I think. Therefore, I am”
René Descartes, a French philosopher, mathematician, and physicist, is considered modern philosophy’s father.
For example, out of the blue, ask your child:
Can you imagine a parrot outside its habitat?
How would you draw your hero?
How would you describe yourself in a starry sky?
This book invites you to understand that we all imagine in very different ways, making us unique.
Don’t worry if you don’t know Simone de Beauvoir or René Descartes; at the end of each book, you are introduced to these peculiar characters who made history and left an important message for those great little thinkers who dared to be different and defend their ideals.
I hope that my literary recommendations will please you and your kids and, above all, that they will be helpful to you on a day-to-day basis.
I am Susana Pérez, CEO at Pop Kinema, an entertainment media, where I have had the opportunity to cover various sections, especially books, one of my favorite hobbies. I have interviewed several authors that I had never even dreamed of because I saw the fact of being able to converse with them as far away or impossible.
I will share several of the books I have read with you and your children to give you a little push and encourage you to read and imagine a world of adventures with the stories you will read.
You are never too young (or old) to learn, and nothing like doing it through playful activities that give us essential life lessons without having to experience them firsthand. Although nobody indeed teaches someone else a lesson, the wonderful thing about the seventh art is that it allows you to generate “experiential” sensations even if they are not happening to you; that is why we want to share with you five movies for children that teach life lessons.
Journalist Claudia del Castillo, who specializes in cinematography and is co-director of Cinetc, a company dedicated to cinema in all its processes, comments, “Hollywood cinema stands out; however, there are also high-quality Mexican films. Even the animated movies are perfect, the idea that in Mexico there aren’t produced good movies has gone down in history”. And she concludes, “There are films that leave great life lessons, especially for children, some hidden, others very clear, but that is the magic of cinematography, which entertains and educates at the same time.”
But let’s dive right in with our expert’s recommendations!
1. EL JEREMÍAS
Synopsis: It tells the story of a brilliant, misfit, and pessimistic boy who, after learning that he is a genius boy, struggles to get ahead despite the ignorance and scarce resources of his family. At only eight years old, he has to anticipate the most difficult decision of his life and define what he wants to be when he grows up.
Teaching:Jeremías always felt different and ashamed of his family. He got the opportunity to live in a privileged place and obtain the education indicated for his intellectual capacities. At first, he felt like a fish in water, surrounded by people who understood his jokes; however, being away from his family made him realize that they, even with their ignorance and poverty, were neither better nor worse than the gifted ones he lived with. His life lesson: he realized that no one would love him more than his family.
Generals: Mexican dramedy distributed by Sony Pictures in 2017, starring Martín Castro, under the direction of Anwar Safa. Written by Ana Sofía Clerici. It’s 93 minutes of pure fun with El Jeremías.
“Martín Castro, at nine years old in 2016, won the Ariel for male revelation for his leading performance in El Jeremías”.
2. KUNG FU PANDA
Synopsis: The protagonist is a panda named Po, the laziest and most greedy of all the creatures in the Valley of Peace. With a dangerous enemy closing in, hope is pinned on an ancient prophecy that says that a hero will rise to save them, and an “accident” will show that this hero is possibly Po.
Teaching: Under pressure, this lanky panda allowed his self-esteem to drop and, with it, his happiness. His life lesson: He felt that all his efforts were not worth it, but thanks to the trust his father had in him, he managed to understand that perseverance, effort, and teamwork would help him achieve anything he set out to do, for more incredible than it seems.
Generals: Animated film, directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson. The main actors in the original dubbing are Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, and Jackie Chan. Written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, set to music by Hans Zimmer. It runs for 95 minutes and is a DreamWorks Animation and Pacific Data Images production.
3. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Synopsis: Live-action adaptation of the Disney classic. It tells the story of Belle, a young woman who dreams of adventure and a world beyond the confines of her town in France. Independent and reserved, Bella wants nothing to do with the cocky Gastón, who pursues her relentlessly. When her father is imprisoned in the Beast’s castle, she offers to trade for her father and is confined. She quickly befriends the former staff of the place, who were transformed into household items after a curse.
Teaching: This moving story goes far beyond a simple love story. Along the way, Bella shows us that she is noble at heart in addition to being bright and cultured. This classic teaches us that we should not judge a book by its cover because life is more than appearances. Her life lesson: Not all rich people are educated, or good people; not all poor people are uneducated or evil.
General: This rehash, classified as a romantic/fantastic/musical, came out in 2017 and lasts 123 minutes in which we can appreciate the performances of Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, and Emma Thompson, among others. Direction: Bill Condon. Screenplay: Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos, based on the novel by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.
4. NIKTÉ
Synopsis: It tells the story of an orphan girl with a bad temper, who wants to be important, and to achieve this, she deceives her people by pretending to be the princess announced in a prophecy. She doesn’t know that this will demand much more than she can offer and that to fulfill it, she will live many dangerous adventures.
Teaching: Nikté thought that everything would be simple, but she realizes that it was easy to lie and that now the difficult thing would be to behave up to the lie that she invented. On her journey, she understands that the responsibility she bears on her shoulders for having lied will determine the welfare of her people, and she will have to cling to friendship and companionship to understand that humility is a treasure. Her life lesson: to be great, you first have to be small in every way.
Synopsis: Santi is a boy who has had to deal with his parents’ separation. One day he receives the news that he must undergo surgery to prevent losing his sight, so he makes a wish list to fulfill them together with his two parents before the operation, so his parents must learn to live together, embarking on a trip unexpected.
Teaching: This plot shows a separated family, where the parents fight, and the son is in the middle. An illness marks a new beginning that makes the three understand that union is strength. Between the fear that their son could go blind even with the operation and living together to comply with Santiago’s list “in case he never sees again,” the story leaves us with a life lesson: family is paramount, and the positive message of overcoming and accepting your reality with a positive attitude, whatever it may be.
Generals:Fernanda Castillo, Mauricio Ochmann, and Emiliano Aramayo star in this 2018 film. This Mexican production is directed by Pedro Pablo “Pitipol” Ibarra, with a script by Alberto Bremer; this Mexican production provides 97 minutes of dramatic comedy suitable for the whole family.
“It’s amazing to listen to children when they tell you what they learned from a movie; I love it!”
The arrival of a baby brings us a lot of joy, but it is also a challenge, especially if we are new parents; anything our baby does makes us nervous and alert. Do not panic; this is the newborn primary care you must consider.
When our baby is born, everything is new. If he cries, we worry; if he doesn’t, we worry too. It is a stage full of doubts and fears. This is normal because it is a new experience in which you are getting to know your little one; however, you must consult your pediatrician frequently to monitor your baby.
Horacio Reyes Vázquez, a pediatrician at Hospital Español and a member of Top Doctors México, explained that the most important care for the newborn has to do with feeding him every three or four hours, cleaning his navel, and protecting his skin to prevent irritation.
Feeding
Dr. Reyes Vázquez explained that food is essential for the newborn; he recommended breast milk.
“It is recommended to offer breast milk. Mom offers one breast for 10, 20, 30 minutes on one side, makes the baby burp, changes his diaper to wake him up, and then offers the other breast for 10, 20, or 30 minutes”.
The specialist pointed out that at mealtime, do not overdress the baby because it makes the baby fall asleep and not finish eating, which results in constantly asking for food.
Ricardo Jaimes Jiménez, a pediatric surgeon, advised cleaning the breasts before and after breastfeeding to avoid fissures or infections. Feed the little one every three hours if the mother decides to use formula, slightly tilting the bottle.
Give sponge baths (keeping the cord dry) until the cord falls off.
To keep the umbilical cord clean, Dr. Horacio Reyes Vázquez highlighted the importance of bathing using a mild soap. When you finish bathing your baby, dry the navel very well and apply white Merthiolate, which will prevent the umbilical cord from becoming infected.
Skincare
The skin of newborns is super delicate, so we should avoid soaps, both for the body and laundry, and creams with fragrances, as they can irritate our baby.
As for clothing, we must use cotton garments to keep them cool and warm; it is crucial not to cover them in excess because we can cover their sweat glands causing the appearance of rashes, advised Rossana Llergo Valdez, president of the Mexican Foundation for Dermatology.
Babies can only communicate by crying. As parents, we must know when they cry because they show if they are cold, hot, or if something hurts.
“Little by little, parents must identify the baby’s crying; it is only a process of getting to know from the parents to the child and vice versa”.
Dr. Ricardo Jaimes Jiménez
Warning signs
In addition to this care, the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) recommends that parents become aware of the following symptoms. If your baby presents any of them, visit your doctor.
Refusing food
Frequent vomiting
Diarrhea
Bleeding from any part of the body
Difficulty for breathing
Yellowish skin color
Discharge from the umbilical cord
Purple nails and lips
Fever
Don’t forget this primary care for your newborn, and periodically visit your pediatrician to monitor your baby’s development.